portable space

When Zhang Taiping returned to the yard, Fan Ming and Xiaoxue were already running back and forth in the house, sticking to the window grilles.

During the Spring Festival, people in many areas like to put various paper-cut window grilles on their windows. In the past, this custom and hobby existed all over the country, but it has continued to be rare in the south. Only the north still follows this custom.

Customs and habits. Especially in Hebei, the custom of putting up window grilles is the most popular. If a family does not put up window grilles during the holidays, people will wonder if something happened to the family.

This custom is gradually disappearing in the South. It must be said that it is due to the rapid development of the South. When high-rise buildings replaced small wooden doors and windows, when the desire to pursue monetary interests replaced the traditional spirit and customs, such as putting on window grilles

There is still room for continuation of customs that bring little practical benefits and are out of touch with the aesthetics of modern people’s fast-paced lives.

In comparison, the north is lagging behind. Many places in the vast northwest mountainous area have not been eroded by modern buildings, and even this beautiful customs are still preserved.

Each art has its own unique artistic style. Due to the paper-cutting materials and the tools used, paper-cutting has its own artistic style. Paper-cutting art is a folk skill that is "easy to learn" but "difficult to master". Most of the authors have published

Among rural women and folk artists

Because they use the things they see and hear in real life as themes and observe objects based on simple emotions and intuitive impressions, they form a special style of paper-cutting art that is rich, simple, concise and lively, reflecting the kind of farmers.

A simple and unpretentious spirit.

However, in modern times, window grilles have gradually formed an independent art category. However, because they originally originated from cutouts during folk festivals or folk activities, and were mostly affixed to white paper on rural windows, they are called "window grilles."

Window grilles have a wide range of themes, including dramatic figures, historical legends, flowers, birds, fish and insects, landscapes, real life and auspicious patterns. It can be said to be everything. But the most common ones are flowers, animals, festive and auspicious patterns.

, often referred to as "auspicious and festive"

", "seeking auspiciousness in good years", "abundant grains", "prosperity of people and animals", "more than enough year after year", "noble flowers and auspicious birds", etc. are the main themes. With its unique generalization and exaggeration techniques, auspicious things and good wishes are expressed

Incisively and vividly, the festival is decorated with prosperity and joy.

Fan Ming was climbing on a stool and standing in front of the window. Next to her, Xiaoxue was holding two red festive window grilles to hold the stool for her.

"What kind of window grilles?" Zhang Taiping walked over and asked.

"Dragon and phoenix are auspicious." Xiaoxue said as she lifted up the window grille in her hand.

"Dragon and phoenix bring good luck" is always the theme of folk art. The dragon and phoenix are graceful in shape and meticulous in depiction, accurately expressing people's psychology of praying for blessings and auspiciousness.

Zhang Taiping looked at these two window grilles with dragons and phoenixes carved on them. He actually knew that phoenix feathers and dragon scales could be reflected on them. The lines were natural and smooth without any harshness, and the layout was generous and reasonable. Coupled with the use of light and dark knife techniques,

It vividly embodies "round like the autumn moon, pointed like wheat awns, square like blue bricks, missing teeth, and lines like beards". It can be regarded as a very good paper-cut, and I think it should be the masterpiece of Muhongyu.

Fan Ming still felt inconvenient standing on the bench. When he saw Zhang Taiping coming, he jumped down from the bench and said: "Brother is tall, come and post it."

Zhang Taiping took the two window grilles from Xiaoxue's hand. The content on both of them was the same, with dragons and phoenixes dancing, but the positions of the dragons and phoenixes were exactly opposite. They were attached to the two windows on both sides of the door to form a perfect symmetry.

"Get some glue over here. How can we stick it on without glue?" Zhang Taiping said.

Fan Ming stuck out his tongue and said, "Ah, it's sticky, I really forgot." After saying that, he ran into the house. After a while, he shouted, "Come on, come on." He returned with a small bowl.

come out.

Xiaoxue smelled a strong sour smell from the bowl and asked curiously: "What kind of paste is this? Why is it so sour?"

"Don't you know? Are you ignorant?" Fan Ming said to the novel with a little pride, and then began to explain to her, "This is a paste commonly used in rural areas. It is made of flour and vinegar. It is used to make shoe soles in rural areas.

, I use this all the time when attaching window grilles and couplets. The stickiness is very good and it doesn’t discolor after drying.”

Xiaoxue said with a smile: "I've really learned a lot." She had been living in a big city before, so of course she didn't understand these little wisdoms in the countryside.

After putting up two window decorations depicting dragons and phoenixes playing, Fan Ming took out a lot of paper-cuts from the house and said, "There's more, there's more."

On the top are two big characters "福", and it's not just a simple character "福". The whole thing is framed by the character "福", and some lifelike flowers, birds, insects and fish are carved in the middle space, which looks festive.

It is also particularly beautiful. The word "福" is upside down, symbolizing blessings falling from the sky.

There was still the old year's "Fu" on it, Fan Ming took it down, and Zhang Taiping put the new year's "Fu" on it.

Wang Anshi's quatrain "Yuan Ri" writes: "The sound of firecrackers marks the end of the year, and the spring breeze brings warmth to Tusu. Thousands of households always replace old talismans with new peaches." Isn't that what he's talking about now?

"福" replaces the old "福".

After replacing the word "Fu", there are five more "Xu Zi". The so-called "Xu Zi" (the previous one is read four times) is something posted on the door rail during the New Year, which echoes the couplets on both sides of the door frame, and is also called "Xu Zi".

"Door beard" is called a door beard that hangs above the door frame like a door beard. It will flutter slightly in the slightest wind, which is very beautiful.

There are different opinions about this "Xuzi" from different places. Some are pendant-type things made of silk, which can be worn with you or hung in the room. The "Xuzi" mentioned in Guanzhong area is a paper cut attached to the door frame.

There are five pictures in total, with the four characters "Happy Family" plus a word "Fu". The four words "Happy Family" are pasted on both sides and the word "Fu" is pasted in the middle just to cover the top of the door frame. It means "Five Blessings"

It has beautiful meanings such as "coming to the door", "bringing blessings to people", "blessing from heaven", etc.

Today is only twenty-eight. Originally, the "beard" and the couplet were posted together on the morning of New Year's Eve. Now that the "beard" has been posted, fortunately, the couplet has also been posted. Chao Fan

Ming said: "Let's take out the couplets and post them too."

Fan Ming was naturally very happy. He ran in and took out the couplets that he had already prepared, as well as two red lanterns that were closed and shrinking. He handed the couplets to Zhang Taiping and said: "I also took out the lanterns. The one above

The two are old, so call up these two new ones."

The couplet was written by an old man, and his handwriting is vigorous and powerful, which is no less impressive than the so-called modern ones. The content of the couplet is nothing outstanding, it just means welcoming the new year and praying for peace and happiness.

After posting the couplets and hanging the lanterns, Zhang Taiping suddenly remembered that he had already made a simple door frame at the door outside the yard. The name on it was "Zhongnan Villa". This Chinese New Year should also have a door frame on it.

Hang two lanterns on the couplet.

Then he asked Fan Ming, "Have you prepared couplets and lanterns for the door frame outside?"

The door outside was more like a sign than a door. Naturally, there were no such things prepared for it at home. Fan Ming shook his head.

Tomorrow is the 29th of the twelfth lunar month, and there is also the last big fair of the year. Zhang Taiping said: "Remember to buy some when you go to the fair tomorrow."

"Want to go to the market tomorrow? Okay, okay." Fan Ming cheered, and then told Xiaoxue about the excitement and interesting things at the rural market.

There were a lot of paper-cuts prepared, and they were all plastered on the windows and walls inside the house. The entire yard suddenly seemed joyful inside and outside, and the smell of the New Year came to our faces.

There is only one piece left at the end. This chapter is different from the previous ones. The carving is unfamiliar and the things carved are simple. At first glance, it looks like it was carved by a novice.

Zhang Taiping looked at Fan Ming and said, "Whose masterpiece is this?"

"It's mine." Fan Ming said, "I'll put this on my own window."

What she cut was a picture of a monkey picking peaches. It was very simple and could be drawn with just a few lines. It was suitable for beginners to practice their skills.

When she put the window grille on, she immediately attracted Wukong and two little monkeys. They stood in front of the window and looked at the monkeys on the paper curiously at close range. They looked a little excited and a little fond of it. They wanted to reach out and peel it off.

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